Welcome

We have created this blog to house posts on our knowledge, thoughts and observations of the luxury lifestyles and diverse cultures of Mauritius, Seychelles. Madagascar, Zanzibar, Maldives and Sri Lanka.

All posts tagged Heritage

Whilst staying at Shanti Maurice recently, we paid a visit to the Stars restaurant and sat on the deck under the dark velvet sky with twinkling stars. The culinary influences are South African, but the ingredients are primarily local.

The restaurant uses only the finest and freshest ingredients whether caught from the Ocean or cultivated in their own gardens or sourced from a local farms nearby.

We asked to sit outside where it was easily accessible and upon our arrival the table had already been laid and was ready right next to the pool. The menu was a delight and we had problems deciding….

Review

Staff– Friendly, knowledgable and efficient

Food– Delicious, skillfully prepared, innovative and just the right quantity

Atmosphere– The restaurant is trendy and relaxed. We arrived early when just a few tables were occupied but soon we were joined by many others and there was a feeling of mutual appreciation for the culinary delights.

The east coast of Mauritius is my favourite coast. From the quiet creeks of Roches Noires in the north, past the wind swept beaches of Poste Lafayette to the mangroves and down to Belle Mare’s soft sandy beaches there is a surprise at every turn of the coastal road. The public beach of Palmar offers a wide expanse of rock and sand, a great place to take the kids for a picnic enroute. Down in the south east is the quiet sleepy village of Trou d’aux Douce with its friendly inhabitants and the wonderful off shore island of Ile Aux Cerfs. Here are highlights of spots to visit on the east coast or within driving distance.

Flacq Market
Flacq is one of the most important villages in Mauritius. This meeting point for inhabitants of the East boasts the country’s largest open air market. The extremely colourful market attracts a large number of people.

The Waterpark Leisure Village
Enjoy unforgettable moments sliding on the giant chutes, with family or friends. Relaxation and pleasure guaranteed.

Ile aux Cerfs
Ile aux Cerfs is a paradise for water sports and has the most beautiful beach in Mauritius. You cannot afford to miss this tiny island, delicately poised on the ocean, a real pearl in the Mauritian landscape.

Eureka
Although not technically in the east but the centre of Mauritius in Moka, I have included the drive from the east through to the heart of old colonial Mauritius which can easily be taken in along with a visit to the markets at Quatre Bornes. An old Creole residence built in 1830, Eureka is an essential place to visit during your stay in Mauritius if you wish to immerse yourself in the past.

Situated at Moka, in the fresh and lush climate of central Mauritius, the famous residence “Eureka” was built during the French colonial period and once belonged to a very well known Mauritian family. The main part of the estate has been turned into a museum, and they offer guided tours through this magnificent colonial house, its lush gardens and down to the cascading river.

It is their aim to have their guests experience an extended glimpse of history and they offer three self catering guesthouses on the premises; situated in the vicinity of the main own residence in a quiet corner of the vast gardens and “off the beaten track”.

Hope you’ve enjoyed our guide of what to see on the Mauritius East Coast!

Reflecting on 2012 we have seen some interesting developments. Whilst there are still some firm favourites making the top 10 we have seen a large increase in family groups looking for a traditional yet trendy villa holiday. This year has been hugely successful for several of the villas on this trend in Mauritius. These spacious architect-designed pool villas with often 5+ bedrooms, offer a real home from home with their own local staff to take away those domestic chores.

2012 has also seen the opening of more luxury oceanfront apartments with very positive client feedback. Wedding parties blocking whole complexes were very popular this year, especially for those with guests from the southern and northern hemispheres meeting half way.

Mauritius continues to attract the villa client who can enjoy a tropical home from home, with homemade cooking, hot sandy beaches and the usual warm welcome of the Mauritius people.

Luxury Beach Apartments

Cape Point is a fantastic seafront property in North Mauritius just 5 minutes from Grand Bay. This year has seen a flurry of wedding groups with guests from all around the globe. Weddings can be held at Cape Point or at other romantic locations nearby. Cape Point has four spacious 3 bedroom apartments and a 4 bedroom penthouse offering a high level of comfort and stunning views over the lagoon and the northern islands. The swimming pool has a large wooden decking area and a pool bar.

Leora opened late 2011 and was the first luxury apartments for rental on the west coast. An instant hit with our guests, it will soon be joined in April 2013 by another similar property L’Espanade. Leora Beachfront Apartments are in a stunning location with amazing sea views. There are 12 apartments and 2 penthouses of 3 bedrooms each set in four stylish blocks. Nearby are top-rated golf courses, sports clubs and commercial centres with shops and restaurants. The opening of such apartments are ideal for families, couples and groups of friends.

Traditional & Trendy Luxury Villas

As always, Villa Athénée is a firm favourite every year, this 5 bedroom beachfront thatched villa is traditonal yet stylish. A real home from home, the guests appreciate the ambiance of the villa, deck, pool and lovely soft sand of the beach as well as the delicious cooking provided by Marie-Josee. Excellent choice for a group of friends or large family.

One of our favourites and with fantastic staff, this villa brings family and golfing groups back year after year. Villas Hermes 2 with its 5 bedrooms can be rented along with Villa Hermes 1 with 4 bedrooms. A much sought-after villa which shares the finest beach of Belle Mare with the One&Only St Géran. All bedrooms are en-suite and air-conditioned. The outside covered terrace leads to a spacious lawn overlooking the powder beach and quiet bay. In our opinion you can’t beat both its location and its dedicated staff . A truly authentic Mauritius holiday experience.

On a gorgeous sandy beach, this well positioned 4-bedroom villa with a guest cottage sleeps up to 8 adults and 2 children. Days are spent sunbathing in the beautifully maintained front garden, laid out lawn and sand or dining under the covered wooden gazebo overlooking the stunning bay. Its location is great for sea sports enthusiasts with the Blue Water Diving Centre and the Big Game Fishing Centre just 75 metres away. This villa has been very popular for large family groups with small children.

This brand new exclusive villa lies on the beach overlooking the islands off the North coast. It is designed in tropical contemporary style and consists of 4 air-conditioned and ventilated en suite bedrooms sleeping up to 8 guests.

Located in the south west of Mauritius at Bel Ombre is Domaine de Belle Riviere, one of the most exclusive estates in Mauritius comprising some exclusive luxury private villas and the Sofitel So Mauritius five star luxurious hotel and spa. Villa Thalie has 7 bedrooms (4 suites and 3 doubles) and can sleep up to 18. Excellently managed and with complimentary access to the neighbouring Sofitel So Mauritius beach, kids club, restaurants and spa this has been a big hit with our discerning family groups. Ideal location for a very private and sophisticated wedding.

A popular favourite this beautiful 4-bedroom villa is situated in a tropical garden overlooking the tranquil beach of Roches Noires, in a cove well protected from the wind. It is the ideal location for sports lovers who want to kite surf, use championship golf courses and jog along the coast. Ideal for families sleeping 6 adults and 2 children.

Ideal for golfing groups and family get togethers, Lunea Villas are nestled in the heart of a 213 acre estate of Anahita with views across to the famous Ile aux Cerfs. The estate also includes the Four Seasons Resort Mauritius and the 18 hole Championship golf course designed by Ernie Els.

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Hope you’ve had a wonderful year in 2012, we know we have with the Olympics and Paralympics in the United Kingdom to be excited about amongst all the rest that is happening in Mauritius.

We look forward to welcoming you to some of these beautiful locations in 2013 which is already just round the corner!

Always arriving exhausted at the villa and with a family stay to organise I am always to pleased to meet the smiling butler who can make sure I, the hostess, has a stressfree and relaxing stay. I have enjoyed the service of the Heritage butlers during both of my stays and admire their enthusiasm and hard work. Their presence is a major part of the villa holiday and they represent to me the genuine Mauritius hospitality – always friendly but not over familiar, willing to adapt to any situation and the natural desire to be of help and to please their guests.

Villa Welcome by Rischi in Sept 2011

WHEN YOU ARRIVE, THE BUTLER WILL ….
_ Ensure accommodation is ready
_ Assist you during check in and accompany you in your villa
_ Offer to unpack luggage
_ Offer beverage service
_ Take note of any requirements you may have on arrival

DURING YOUR STAY,THE BUTLER WILL …
_ Take bookings for breakfast, lunch and dinner
_ Handle your laundry, dry cleaning or pressing requests
_ Liaise with housekeeping for the cleaning and servicing of the villa
_ Offer to draw a scented bubble bath
_ Offer general assistance related to bookings and stay’s organization
_ Tidy your wardrobe
_ Ensure that your villa is maintained in perfect condition
_ Check and restock villa bar if applicable
_ Offer food and beverage service
_ Drive you to hotels or beach
_ From time to time adjust cleaning in your villa
_ Fill your dish washer or washing machine if necessary
_ Follow up on any specific requirements with the concierge team

UPON DEPARTURE, THE BUTLER WILL ….
_ Offer to pack your luggage
_ Present your account in advance of check out
_ Arrange transport requirements
_ Coordinate luggage pick up
_ Tidy your wardrobe
_ Escort you to the Welcome Centre lobby
_ Check your villa for any item you may have forgotten

Butler Service
Butler Service Rs 2520 per villa per day
A butler will be available for a maximum of 8 persons in the villa

Overview
Whilst staying at the Heritage Villas, you are welcome at the trendy C Beach Club where you can have a social dip in the pool, do water sports at the Boathouse and be served food and drink whilst you relax on the beach. It also houses the V.I. Teens Club, which organises events throughout the day, every day, tailor-made to the teenagers attending.

Food & Drink on the beach
On the beach we were offered a menu from the restaurant which was filled with various cocktails, pizzas and paninis. We tried four different pizzas; Seafood, Mediterranean, Four Cheeses and Rocket & Parma Ham. Out of all four, the seafood pizza was the best, full of flavour. To drink we ordered all four of the Mocktails (Non-alcoholic Cocktails), these went really well with our pizzas.

The Boathouse
We couldn’t resist hiring equipment from the Boathouse after seeing others enjoying the water sports. There are Laser boats, Kayaks and Pedalos, as well as Wind surfing, Water Skiing and other sports. With Pedalos and Kayaks you are able to explore right up the beach to Awali within designated zones.

V.I. Teens Club
Some of our party were very interested in the teens club, immediately they were encouraged by the ‘V.I. Teens Animator’ to get involved with a beach volleyball match during which several other teenagers from other parts of the resort joined. The atmosphere made it easy for everyone to make friends which were especially interesting as they came from all over the world. The ‘Animator’ took suggestions for activities for the following day and followed up with the teenagers schedule at the next breakfast.

One of the best experiences for everyone at Heritage was the In-Villa Dining BBQ. Chefs and waiters come to your villa and prepare the food. Whilst you start your dinner you can see the chef barbequing the meat infront of you; the smells are just as much part of the taste of the meal.

First crudités and salad with freshly prepared dressings decorated the table. First coming of the main course the beef steaks which melted in your mouth like butter. Then, accompanied by a special Barbeque sauce, came the Lamb Shanks which were equally tender and delicious. After this was the culinary pinacle and final main dish, the giant Indian Ocean Prawns were fluffy and generously flavoursome.

The dessert was a beautiful trio of Chocolate Mousse with Citrus Curd, Tiramisu and Tropical Fruit Kebab. Once we had had our coffees to finish, we met the chefs and applauded them enthusiastically as we had a fantastic meal.

On arriving at Heritage Villas you are welcomed at the Chateau, where you are asked whether you want to have the formalities conducted inside the chateau or in the villa. We were led to our villa and given a complimentary cocktail and cold towel, shown around and were asked when and where we wanted dinner as we were with the Dining Around Package where you are expected to try the different restaurants on the resort.

Having stayed already at Heritage villas previously, our party were interested in the differences and similarities between the villas. The previous villa had been all on the ground floor but this villa had a stunning upstairs Master Bedroom with a view of the sea. Each villa has a different personality due to having different owners, so it’s very unique and intimate in comparison to a hotel experience.

Despite it being winter in Mauritius, some of our party tried out the pool and there was plenty of seating outside around the pool for others to join in whilst staying dry. The art and décor of the villa was tasteful in using delicate neutral colours, perfect for everyone.

From the villa we were able to explore all that Heritage had to offer at Awali, Le Tel Fair, C Beach Club and the Golf Club as the villa comes with a golf buggy which offers you that freedom.

I am definitely a morning person who really appreciates a thoughtful and exciting breakfast menu which was what we were treated to in Chateau de Bel Ombre whilst staying at Heritage Villas. One either sits inside the chateau itself or on its exquisite terrace looking over the fountains and golf course.

The tables were beautifully laid with lovely white porcelaine. We were seated on the terrace and began our breakfast taking in the vista. All started well with coffee for me and a pot of hot chocolate for Jasmine.

I am however always disappointed when breakfast is served in the wrong order; such as when the yogurt or cereal arrive after the cooked breakfast or the pastry basket is taken away when the cooked breakfast arrives! Everyone enjoys this meal in their own way and I wished the staff would have simply asked, if that is not the case if you are staying I would urge you to make it clear in which order you would like it in before it begins.

Otherwise our experience at Chateau Bel Ombre was excellent. I chose the Mama Creole omelette and savored the spicy delights of Mauritius a highlight of my day and Jasmine chose her favorite eggs, hash brown and bacon.

Whilst staying recently at Heritage Villas, we paid a visit to Heritage Le Telfair Mauritius where we had dinner at the famous restaurant Gin’ja. The restaurant which serves innovative Pan-Asian fusion cuisine gave us an elegant fine dining experience with a range of exotic flavours and creative combinations.

We were welcomed enthusiastically and shown our table near the teppanyaki corner. We were left constantly pleasantly surprised as we were not choosing from the menu but given a selection of their best dishes which I have listed below in the menu.

Every dish brought us excitement which only increased as we tasted our way through the surprise menu. There were touches of genius all evening such as the delicious steamed buns before and during our meal with exotic dips, as well as the innovative vanilla tempura icecream which melted in our mouths.

We loved how you could also watch the chef prepare the dishes through a glass window near our table; it let us join in with the creation of the food as well as the tasting. You effectively sit outside looking out onto the water under a roof with dimmed lights which really adds to the atmosphere of the restaurant.

We cannot wait to return and taste more of their impressive inspired cusine!

Review

Staff– Friendly, knowledgable and efficient

Food– Delicious, skillfully prepared, innovative and just the right quantity

Atmosphere– The restaurant is trendy and relaxed. We arrived early when just a few tables were occupied but soon we were joined by many others and there was a feeling of mutual appreciation for the culinary delights.